Apparatus for carbonization of coal



Nov. l0, 1931. K. M. slMPsoN 1,831,512

APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZATION OF COAL Filed Sept. 28, 1926 ano/mw? Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' KENNETH E. SIMPSON, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

Arrm'rus ron. cAnBoNIzATIoN or com. l

Application lfiled September 28, 1926. Serial No. 138,287.

The inventionrelates t0 improvements in an apparatus for the low temperature carbonization of coals and like materials.

My apparatus broadly consists in providing means for imparting toa series of moving receptacles a carbonizing heat while passing through a heating zone, and in introducing to said receptacles pulverized carbona- `ceous material While moving through a cooler Zone, the heat absorbed by the material constituting the receptacles being sufiicient during this latter movement to vaporize out the volatiles from the comminuted carbonaceous material and leave a substantially carbonized product.

In my improved apparatus I preferably utilize a continuous conveyor consisting of interconnected receptacles adapted to pass through a heating zone to receive their carbonizing heat after which material is introduced to said vessels While moving through a cooler zone, the heat absorbed by the material constituting the vessels, being, however, sufficient to carbonize the introduced charge of finely comminuted material. It is therefore apparent that no direct heat is applied to the vessels While filled with arbonaceous materials and that the low temperature carbonization occurs solely by reason of the heat contained in the vessels.4

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred embodiment of an apparatus capable of supporting this process, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view of my apparatus; and,

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through the apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, the numeral l designates a furnace structure which may be formed of any desired and conventional material and which is provided Withan open interior 2 adapted to receive the interposed hearth 3 constructed of brick or the like. The bottom 4 of the furnace is formed with flues 5, these flues being adapted to conduct heating gasesvinto the open interior 2 of the furnace from the combustion chamber 5*l seated beneath this Wall. Gases or the like, are burned in the combustion chamber by means of the burner 6 to supply the necessary heat for carrying out the process.

The furnace is provided with a top Wall having a vapor outlet 7 leading therefrom, which extends to any suitable receiver, condenser or the like.

Disposed within the interior 2 of the furnace 1 near each side of the hearth 3 I provide sprockets 7 and 8 around which an endless conveyor 9 passes, the conveyor 9 consisting of a series of metallic pans 10 carried by y sprocket chains 11 extending around the sprockets 7 and 8. These pans 10 substantially'abut one another and offer a continuous conveying surface. The sprockets 7 and 8 are driven by hand orany suitable povver mechanism.

' It will be apparent that the flues 5 heat the under side of the retort opening 2 so that-the metallic pans 10 receive their maximum heat While travelling on the under side of the hearth 3 and adjacent the iues 5. The retort near' its forward end is provided with an outlet opening 13 Which is sealed to prevent the discharge of heat from the chamber 2 and through which opening carbonized articles, coal and thel like are discharged fiom the pans 10, as they move around the sprockets 7. 80

. Adjacent the main conveyor 9 I provide an auxiliary conveyor 14, the same consisting of a series of pans similar to the pans 10 connected together by chains travelling arund the sprockets 15 and 16. The auxiliary con- S5 veyor 14 feeds to the main conveyor 9, if this is found to be desirable, or the main conveyor can be fed entirely independent-ly of the auxiliary conveyor. To this end I provide a feed 16 for the auxiliary conveyor and a feed 17 90 for the main conveyor. Pulverized materials, such as powdered coal, mixtures of coal and oil, and the like fill the feed hoppers 16 and 17 and regulated quantitiesof this material can be dropped into the pans carried by 95 the conveyor chains from time to time during the operation of the apparatus. It Will be observed that the pans 10 are constructed of cast iron or similar metal which Will absorb and retain sufficient quantities of heat when m0 passing beneatbthe' Hues 5 to cause a low temperature carbonization of the material later introduced to said heated pans when travelling over the hearth 3. It may be necessary at times to construct the pans of unusual thickness in order that they will retain sullicient heat to cause the carbonizat-ion. It is one of the salient objects of this invention to also provide an improved process for the low temperature carbonization of fuels which may be carried out in an apparatus of the character herein disclosed.

The process briefly consists in subjecting a plurality of ans, vessels or the like to a temperature while: they contain no coal or other carbonaceous fuels, and after said pans have i been highly heated and while moving through a cooler zone I then introduce to the pans charges of finely pulverized carbonaceous materials. The temperature of the pans is suilicient after the introduction of such materials thereto to vaporize out the.

volatiles contained in the tine coal particles leaving a substantially carbonized residue. In the process it is necessary that the pans possess a sucient quantity of metal or other material which will absorb and retain the desired amount of heat to effect the carbonization of the coal. I have found, however, that pans constructed of relatively thick cast iron material will very satisfactorily perform this process. 4

In carrying out the process in the apparatus herein described, I heat the retort to a temperature well in excess of 7 00o C., the temperature being sufficient, however, to heat the cast iron pans 10 to a temperature of at least 700 C.

In each pan I deposit pulverized coal in a layer of say one-half inch thickness, which coal may be deposited directly to the pans 10.

t-hrough the main feed 17 or may be reheated before it enters the pans in the main conveyor by first having travelled the length of the auxiliary Yconveyor 14 from where it is discharged into the pans of the main conveyor' 9. In other words, the supplemental feed may be used if desirable, but it need not be used if satisfactory conditions can be 0btained by depositing the material from the feed 17 directlyA into -the pans of the main conveyor. The pans travel very `slowly through the main conveyor, and in fact just as soon as each pan passes around the sprocket 8 it receives its fuel charge and it may require approximately fifteen minutes to move this charge to the outlet 13 at the opposite side of the retort. The hearth 3 is maintained at a comparatively high temperature so as to prevent a sudden cooling of the pans when moving above said hearth. In fact., when the pans are at a temperature of say 7 00 C. when they move around the sprocket 8 sa-idapans may be of a temperature of approximately 5009 C. when passing around the sprocket 7,

It will be apparent that during this heat through the vapor discharge pipe 7. The

carbonized residue from each pan is automatically discharged into the opening 13 as the pans pass around the sprocket 7.

It will be clearly apparent that it is vital in this process that the cast iron pans should be of suiicient size to absorb that amount of heat necessary to distill vthe volatiles from the coal charges and to convert the residue into coke. to be subjected to a temperature of not less than 5000 C. to properly cause its distillation and in carrying out this process I therefore utilize pans of suiici'ent thickness to retain this temperature when the pans are travelling over the hearth 3. By this process the maximum temperature is not applied directly to the pans while they contain the coal undergoing treatment, but the heat absorbed in the pans during their heat treatment while free of coal is utilized for the low temperature distillation of the coal subsequently applied to the heated pans.

In the accompanying claims I have referred to the apparatus as embodying a heating compartment, and a distilling compartment. By the heating compartment I mean the compartment A between the heat-ing iiues and the brick hearth 3, while by the term distilling compartment I have in mind the compartment 'B overlying the hearth 3, or that space between the upper surface of the hearth and the top of the retort.

This application is a continuation in part of my prior application, 4Serial No. 723,022, filed June 28, 1924.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. An apparatus for carbonizing coal comprising a horizontally disposedretort, a. horizontal baille member within said retort dividing the same into a lower heating compartment and an upper distilling compartment having an inlet end and an outlet end,

a combustion chamber, means for passing hot combustion gases from said chamber into said heating and distilling compartments, an endless carrier formed of a material capable of absorbing a carbonizing heat disposed Leanne in said retort terminating short of said end wall and dividing said retort into a lower heating compartment and an upper distilling compartment having an inlet end adjacent said Wall and an oppositely vdisposed outlet end, an endless carrier formed of a material capable of absorbing a carbonizing heat disposed within said retort and positioned for movement aroun said battle mem ber, 1neans for moving said carrier through said heating compartment and then through said distilling compartment from said inlet end thereof to said outlet endthereof, a combustion chamber, means for passing hot combustion gases from said chamber into said heatin and distilling compartments, means within said retort adjacent said end wall and said inlet end of the distilling compartment for receiving and delivering coal to said carrier, and means at said outlet end of said distilling compartment for discharging the coal from said carrier.

3. An apparatus for carbonizing coal comrisin .a horizontall arranofed retort having an end Wall, a horizontal baille member within saidretort terminating short of said end -wall and dividing said retort into a lower heatingv compartment and an upper distilling compartment having an inlet end adjacent said Wall and an oppositely disposed outlet end, an endless carrier formed of a material capable of absorbing a carbonizing heat disposed within said retort A and positioned for movement around said baille member,v means for moving said carrier through said heating compartment and then through said distilling compartment from said inlet end thereof to said outlet end thereof, a combustion chamber, means `for passing hot combustion gases from said chamber into said heating and distilling compartments. an endless conveyor Within said retort adjacent said end wall and said inlet end of the distilling compartment and arranged for discharge onto said carrier at said inlet end of the distilling compartment, means for feeding coal to said conveyor, and means at said outlet end of said distilling compartment for 'discharging the coal from said carrier.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

KENNETH M. SIMPSON. 

